Shield for diagnostic reflectors



G R U B N E N A R B J SHIELD FOR DIAGNOSTIC REFLECTORS Filed March 28, 1940 Juuus BRANDENBUKG INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHIELD FOR DIAGNOSTIC REFLECTORS Julius Brandenburg, New York, Y.

Application March 28,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to head mirror reflectors worn on the head by physicians for use in the illumination of the ear, nose and throat of a patient.

In diagnosing and treating infections, it is highly desirable that the wearer of the reflector be protected against the germs spread by the coughing of the patient and prevent exchange of unpleasant odors from the mouth of the patient and the physician.

An object of this invention is to provide a detachable, boilable disk for reflectors designed to effectively shield the nose and mouth of the diagnostician.

Another object of this invention is to provide a nose and mouth shield for reflectors, the said shield being removably mounted on the reflector by mechanism which permits adjustment to a non-shielding position when the shield is not in use and to be retained in tensioned engagement on the reflector in all adjusted positions. When the shield is not in use it acts as a protector for the mirror.

Another object of this invention is to provide a detachable shield disk made of, rustless material and of a size to completely cover the reflector, the said shield disk having a U-shaped clip made of spring metal pivotally secured thereto and the arms of the clip being designed to resiliently engage the reflector while the disk is retained in tensioned engagement on the clip either over the reflector or over the nose and mouth of the diagnostician. 7

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of mouth and nose shield embodying my invention in, applied position to a head-mirror reflector.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the front of the shield.

Figure 3 is a side view of the shield and spring clip.

Figure 4 is a plan view of an enlarged fragmentary portion of the shield in assembled relation with the spring clip.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assem- 1940, Serial No. 326,366 (01. 12s' 139) bled shield, the section being taken as on line 5-5 in Figure 4. i

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral I indicates a head-mirror reflector on which the shield is detachably mounted. The reflector has a central aperture therethrough and is concave on its outer face and of considerable thickness. A head-band H is connected to the reflector by a double ball-and-socket universal joint l2 which admit of the reflector being adjusted to any position desired.

The shield I3 is capable of application to the reflector It] Without in anyway modifying the construction of the latter, while allowing the necessary adjustment of the shield to protect the nose and mouth of the physician, and the frictional retention of the shield in an elevated position as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure l.

The shield l3is preferably made ofa disk of aluminum having a dull or non-polished outer surface or other'suitable non-reflecting material having a degree of rigidity. The shield l3 has been pivotally connectedtoa spring clip M in a manner to allow lateral adjustment of the shield to a shielding or non-shielding position.

As shown in Figure 3, the clip I4 is of substantially U-shaped form, one-of the arms l extending outwardly slightly more than the arm IS, the portion of the arm l5 projecting outwardly beyond the arm l6 serving to first contact the reflector when assembling, and thereby facilitating the insertion of the reflector between the arms of the spring clip.

As shown in Figure 5, the arm [5 has an aperture "in alinement with a circularly dished and 1 apertured portion IS in, the arm H5. The dished portion 18 extends in a direction away from the arm I5 and is of sufficient depth to receive the 6 head 19 of a rivet 20 so that the head will be a or below the inner surface of the arm l6 and prevented from contacting the reflector when the clip 14 is mounted on the reflector.

A perforated and axially compressible spring washer 2| has been mounted on the rivet 20 between the disk l3 and the outer face of the arm IS. A flat washer 22 has been mounted on the rivet 20 and in contact with the outer face of the disk l3. The rivet has been clinched so as to compress the spring washer 2| and cause the clip 14 to be held in tensioned relation with the disk [3.

It is to be noted that the removal of the metal at the perforated portion of the arm l5 prevents the formation of a high spot at the inner surface of the clip. Such a high spot would cause point contact between the clip and the disk, resulting in reduced frictional grip between the clip and the reflector. In the perforated structure shown, there is provided gripping contact at least on an annular area larger than the aperture 11.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a head-mirror reflector, a detachable shield for said reflector, said shield being made of non-reflecting material and of a size to cover said reflector, said shield having a substantially U-shaped spring clip pivotally secured thereto, the arms of said clip being in frictional engagement with said reflector, one of said arms being riveted to said shield, a compressed spring inserted between said arm and said shield to permit tensioned adjustment of said shield relative to said reflector, the arm of said clip opposite said riveted arm having an aperture in alignment with said rivet head, said riveted arm having a circularly dished portion in alignment with said aperture, said dished portion extending in a direction away from said perforated arm and being of suflicient depth to prevent the head of said rivet from contacting said reflector and causing both arms of said clip to grip said reflector on a substantially large area from opposite sides, whereby said shield is retained in tensioned engagement on said reflector in all adjusted positions.

2. In combination with a head-mirror reflector, a detachable shield for said reflector, said shield being made of non-reflecting metal and of a size to cover said reflector, said shield having a spring mounting, said mounting comprising a substantially U-shaped spring clip, the arms of said'clip being spaced apart in frictional engagement with said reflector, one of said arms being riveted to said shield, a compressed spring inserted between said arm and said shield to permit tensioned adjustment of said shield relative to said reflector, the arm of said clip opposite said riveted arm having an aperture in alignment with said rivet head, said riveted arm having a circularly dished portion in alignment with said aperture, said dished portion being pressed in a direction away from said perforated arm, said dished portion being of suflicient depth to prevent the head of said rivet from contacting said reflector and causing both arms of said clip to grip said reflector on a substantially large area from opposite sides, whereby said shield is retained in tensioned engagement on said reflector in all adjusted positions.

3. In combination with a head-mirror reflector of disk-like form, a detachable shield disk for said reflector, said disk being made of nonreflecting metal and of a size to cover said reflector, said shield having a spring mounting, said mounting comprising a substantially U- shaped spring clip, the arms of said clip being spaced apart in frictional engagement with said reflector, one of said arms being riveted to said shield, a compressed spring inserted between said arm and said shield to permit tensioned adjustment of said shield relative to said reflector, the arm of said clip opposite said riveted arm having an aperture in alignment with said rivet head, said riveted arm having a circularly dished portion in alignment with said aperture, said dished portion being pressed in a direction away from said perforated arm, said dished portion being of suflicient depth to prevent the head of mounting at the outer edge thereof, said mountj ing comprising a substantially U-shaped clip made of spring metal, the arms of which are spaced apart to permit frictional engagement of said reflector, one of the armsof said clip being riveted to said shield, a compressed spring washer inserted between said arm and said shield to permit tensioned adjustment between said clip and said shield, the armof said clip opposite said riveted arm having an aperture in alignment with said rivet head, said riveted arm having a circularly dished portion in alignment withsaid aperture, the metal of said dished portion being pressed in a direction away from said perforated arm, said dished portion being of suflicient depth to prevent the head of said rivet from contacting said reflector and causing both arms of said clip to grip said reflector on a substantially large peripheral edging from opposite sides.

JULIUS BRANDENBURG. 

